Hundreds of bird watchers descend on Derbyshire to glimpse species never seen before

By Dan Hobson

Hundreds of bird watchers have descended on Chesterfield’s Crooked Spire to get a glimpse of a bird NEVER BEFORE seen in Derbyshire.

The Crag Martin, which usually resides in Southern Europe, was spotted by Roy Frost yesterday (Sunday) when he was looking to spot a Peregrine Falcon.

Roy, who is joint county bird recorder for Derbyshire, said this is the first time the bird has ever been spotted in the county – and only the thirteenth time it has been spotted in the UK.

Roy, who has recently written a book called The Birds of Derbyshire, said: “You would normally see this bird in France, Spain, Italy and other places in Southrtn Europe.

“For it to be in Chesterfield is really exciting. It’s never been seen in Derbyshire before so a lot of people are going up to the Crooked Spire to see it for themselves.”

As news has spread of the sighting, hundreds of bird watches have descended on the crooked spire, all hoping to spot the rare bird.

A rare Crag Martin has been spotted at the Crooked Spire, in Chesterfield. This is the first time the bird has ever been seen in Derbyshire, and is only the thirteenth time the rare bird has been spotted in the UK. Photo by Andy Deighton.

Roy said: ““Scores of birdwatchers from many parts of England have been to see it. This is the rarest bird in Derbyshire since an albatross was seen in the early 1950s.”

The Crag Martin looks like a brownish-grey Swallow and is from the Swallow family. The bird takes insects in flight.

WILL YOU TRY AND SPOT THE RARE BIRD?

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